Cultural Policy

The below is the text of the European Cultural Parliament Declaration issued following the annual meeting, this year held in Łódź, Poland.

Members of the European Cultural Parliament (ECP) convened for a plenary
session in Łódź, Poland, from 11 to 13 September 2026.
Together, we:

• Congratulated the City of Łódź on its flourishing Arts & Culture life,
  clearly demonstrated during the session,
• Welcomed the opportunity to establishing contacts between cultural
  personalities in Łódź and the rest of Europe,
• Highlighted the importance of the challenges for European Arts & Culture
  in the era of digital, audio-visual overwhelming, and the related crisis for
  reading capacity and media literacy,
• Welcomed the opportunity to discuss the crisis for European Arts &
  Culture in times of war and conflict,
• Emphasized the importance of defending European Unity and European
  Culture,
• Confirmed the decisive role of Arts & Culture in defending European
  values and ethics, based on democracy, human rights, the rule of law,
  freedom of speech, artistic expression and knowledge-based
  decision-making,
• Strongly condemned the Russian invasion in Ukraine and encouraged
• ECP Members to engage with their colleagues in Ukraine,
• Called for the establishment of enhanced, direct support programs for
  Ukrainian artists and cultural institutions who operate inside Ukraine
  under great peril, by recognizing cultural infrastructure in Ukraine as part
  of efforts to secure democracy across Europe,
• Demanded enhanced transparency and regulation to halt the dissemination
  of xenophobia, war propaganda, ethnic hatred, and extremism to
  European citizens via social media as part of cognitive warfare,
• Highlighted concerns about the unchecked power of tech giants and
  companies over social media platforms, where manipulative gatekeeping
  and ideological censorship fuel disinformation and undermine the
  democratic discourse,
• Identified the need of ethics and the importance for governments to seize
  control over the development of AI through relevant legislation, in the
  interest of current and future generations,
• Stated the urgent need for research and education in how AI may enhance
  creative processes in everyday life, with particular regard to:
• Forms of communication that support critical thinking, somatic
  intelligence, sensory experience, physical presence and
  responsibility;
• Ways in which digital media accelerates processes at the cost of
  reflection and ethics;
• The importance of ambiguity, doubt and uncertainty to creative
  processes;
• How cultural heritage may be valued, sustained and shared through
  digital media;
• Expressed our sincere gratitude to our host, the City of Łódź, as well as to
  the partners and sponsors;
• Extended our particular thanks to Ms Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of the
  City of Łódź, for her support and hospitality;
• Expressed our appreciation to Mr Andrzej Walczak, President of the Atlas
  Sztuki Foundation, and Mr Jacek Michalak, Chief Coordinator, and his
  team, for their commitment and support.
  The Session was held under the Honorary Patronage of Ms Małgorzata
  Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
  
• ECP-Members in Lódz – September 2026